The Philadelphia Flyers are accumulating quite a group of former players in the front office. After announcing Patrick Sharp’s addition yesterday, they have now named John LeClair Special Advisor to Hockey Operations.
LeClair will work alongside Sharp and report to general manager Daniel Briere. President of hockey operations Keith Jones released the following statement:
Adding in John LeClair to work in conjunction with Patrick Sharp and the rest of our hockey operations group will be a powerful combination with their vast hockey knowledge and a ’team-first’ mentality.
John has been around the NHL and the game for a long time and knows what it takes to bring the core ethics of our foundation to the Philadelphia Flyers.
LeClair, 53, played parts of ten seasons for the Flyers during his playing career, forming one-third of the legendary “Legion of Doom” line with Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg. The three power forwards dominated the league for several years, with LeClair scoring 50+ goals in three straight seasons between 1995-1998.
In terms of hockey operations, however, LeClair is a rookie. He coaches in 3ICE, the three-on-three league in which many current and former pros participate over the summer.
Between LeClair, Sharp, and Jones, the Flyers have added nearly 1,700 NHL points in the front office in recent weeks.
Great hire! Great player and person. Let’s Go Flyers!!!
I actually joked with someone at the gym yesterday that next the Flyers will hire LeClair too. Back to the mid 90’s we go!
Considering the Flyers pivoted away from hiring people with Flyers connections and it’s resulted in the worst period of Flyers history I’m all for bringing in some people who understand the team, the city, and what’s needed to win. I think Sharp will be great for the young players who have struggled and for future prospects as well.
I like LeClair, but it is amusing to watch the band being put back together. :D
What about the 3 ex-Flyer advisors that have been there forever! Clarke and the other2.
Looks like this new Philly management group could actually beat the team they expect to put on the ice this coming season.
So true. Really don’t understand how they continue to fumble each year. Seems the FO had been reactive and didn’t have a strategy.
Well … what’s the common theme in the Philadelphia front office, and what has the common theme been from the 1980s on forward? Simple: having been a star for the Flyers. Clarke. Hextall. Holmgren. Barber. Over and over again this happens.
Awful hire showing Flyers have learned nothing after failing for 50 years. What an embarrassment to everyone
Not sure why people are upset about the hire, he’s an advisor, not the GM. They tried hiring the smart guys in the front office, they tried hiring people who were successful other places, neither of which worked. Things need to change, my trust is in Jonesy who I have respect for and he deserves a chance.